An Egyptian court has sentenced 12 supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi to 17 years in prison for participating in violent protests. It is the latest in an ongoing political standoff between the Muslim Brotherhood and the military-backed government. Since his removal, thousands of Morsi supporters have been arrested, but now a Brotherhood-led alliance is calling for national dialogue to end Egypt’s crisis. So will their calls be answered, and if not, then what? Join us at 19:30 GMT.

Egypt’s exclusive democracy

Will the Muslim Brotherhood be pushed underground again?

Hundreds gathered at the presidential palace on November 15 to protest against the sentencing of 12 "pro-Morsi supporters" to 17 years in prison. According to reports, the supporters allegedly took part in a violent student-led protest at Al Azhar University, one of the leading institutions in Sunni Islam.

The Muslim Brotherhood described their frustration in a statement posted on their website.

the entire Egyptian society was shocked and dismayed to see Al-Azhar University students sentenced to prison terms of seventeen years for allegedly trying to break into their own university. Meanwhile, those who kill or torture people or threaten the public with deadly weapons are not brought to trial.ikhwanweb.com

The Muslim Brotherhood is flexing its muscle by organising huge protests today. " I am still popular," is probably the message. #EgyptNervana Mahmoud

This demonstration is part of the ongoing protests in Egypt since former President Mohamed Morsi was removed from power in July. More than 1,000 people were killed in clashes with police. Thousands have been arrested, with many going to trial including Morsi and other Brotherhood officials.

In #Egypt protests are illegal except if they support army and police.Wael Eskandar

Regardless of whether or not you support the protests in #Egypt: no peaceful protester should have to fear for their life or health. Simple.H.A. Hellyer د. إتش

Many pro-Brotherhood protesters have used the R4BIA (Rabia) symbol for their demonstrations. RB4IA started as an online movement to show solidarity with those who died in the Rabaa Square clashes in August.

However, many are critical over the Muslim Brotherhood demonstrations.

And like every friday, the rabia protests. The people who are too blind to believe that morsi is not coming back.Farrrrrah

I mean - protesting today was important, but protests on their own aren't the solution or even the backbone of a solution. #EgyptIyad El-Baghdadi

In an effort to ease tensions between Brotherhood supporters and the government, the National Alliance to Support Legitimacy called for a national dialogue as way out of the country's political tension". This was the first time the Brotherhood-backed establishment did not demand for reinstatement of the former president or bringing back the 2012 constitution. They says Egypt needs to stop "arrests, bloodshed, and hate speech" in order to have a"serious discussion".

@AA_Ashour:The National Alliance opens a new horizon for solve the politics in Egypt. But the exclusionary forces still live in the illusion that Egypt is for them only...we need to wake them up.